How to travel between Sado Island and Tokyo
Sado Island lies about 50 kilometers off the coast of Niigata Prefecture. The island can be accessed by air from Niigata Airport or by ferry via three port towns: Ryotsu is the main port with connections to Niigata City, while the smaller port towns of Ogi and Akadomari have connections to Naoetsu and Teradomari respectively.
By air from Niigata
From Tokyo, take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen to Niigata Station (2 hours, 10,000 yen, covered by Japan Rail Pass). Alternatively, daytime and overnight highway buses make the one way trip from Tokyo to Niigata in about 5.5 hours and for 5,250 yen. Discount bus companies, such as Willer Express, have fares from 2,700 yen.
From Niigata Station take a bus to Niigata Airport (25 minutes, 400 yen), from where New Japan Aviation operates 3-4 flights per day to Sado Airport just outside Ryotsu. The flight takes 25 minutes and costs 6500 yen one way.
By ferry from Niigata to Ryotsu
From Tokyo, take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen to Niigata Station (2 hours, 10,000 yen, covered by Japan Rail Pass). Alternatively, daytime and overnight highway buses make the one way trip from Tokyo to Niigata in about 5.5 hours and for 5,250 yen. Discount bus companies, such as Willer Express, have fares from 2,700 yen.
From Niigata, Sado Kisen operates car ferries (departures every 3 hours) and high speed jetfoils (departures every 1-2 hours depending on the season) to Ryotsu on Sado Island. The one way journey by car ferry takes 2.5 hours and costs 2,320 yen per person and around 16,500 yen for an average sized car. By jetfoil it takes one hour and costs 6,220 yen.
By ferry from Naoetsu to Ogi
From Tokyo, take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen and Hakutaka limited express via Echigo-Yuzawa to Naoetsu Station (2.5 hours, about 9,000 yen, note that the Hakutaka is not fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass). Alternatively, highway buses make the one way trip from Tokyo to Naoetsu Station in about 5.5 hours and for 5,250 yen.
From Naoetsu, Sado Kisen operates 1-3 car ferries per day to Ogi on Sado Island. The one way journey takes 2.5 hours and costs 2,530 yen per person and about 18,000 yen for an average size car.
By ferry from Teradomari to Akadomari
From Tokyo, take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen to Nagaoka (105 minutes, about 8,500 yen, covered by the Japan Rail Pass), from where a bus departs once an hour to the Teradomari Ferry Terminal (70 minutes, 770 yen). From Teradomari, Sado Kisen operates 1-3 high speed boats per day (except in January) to Akadomari on Sado Island. The one way ride takes one hour and costs 2,760 yen. The boats do not transport cars.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.
